Tanzanian Opposition Figure Ali Mohamed Kibao Found Dead After Abduction

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — A senior member of Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, was found dead after being abducted and brutally attacked. The victim, identified as Ali Mohamed Kibao, was reportedly forced off a bus at gunpoint while traveling from Dar es Salaam to Tanga on Friday, according to party officials.

Kibao’s body was discovered on Saturday night in the Ununio district of Dar es Salaam. Chadema party leader Freeman Mbowe stated that Kibao had been beaten and had acid poured on his face. Kibao, a former military intelligence officer, had previously worked with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) before joining Chadema.

This incident follows a series of arrests and intimidation of opposition members in Tanzania. Mbowe expressed concern for the safety of other party members, highlighting the ongoing threats and disappearances of opposition figures. Local police have launched an investigation, but no statement has yet been issued on the death.

Rights groups have expressed growing alarm over the suppression of political dissent in Tanzania, especially as the country heads toward local government elections in December 2024, followed by general elections in 2025. Despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s promises to ease restrictions on the opposition, recent events have raised concerns about the return of oppressive tactics.